Game.



PATENTED) SEPT. a, 1:903;

A. J. BRANHAM.

GAME.

. APPLICATION FILED FEB. a0, 1903.

H0 IODEL.

Av s a. M .2 c H fill/m cf Bra/1076a!!! Wits noon UNITED STATES Patented September 8, 1903.-

ALVIN J. BRANHAM, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

GAME.

FJEEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,401, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed February 20, 1903. Serial No. 144,322, (No model.)

1b a. whom. it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ALVIN J. BRANHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sprin gfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of'which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to games of the class embodying a board, tray, or like base and objects movable thereon by deftly manipulating the base.

The purpose of the present invention is the provision of a game of the character aforesaid possessing novel characteristics and re quiring a degree of skill and exercise on the part of the player while serving to train the eye and hand.

The invention consists, essentially, of a tray, board, or base of approximately round form provided with a handle and a pocket, a series I of tubes projected upward from the base and a series of objects, such as balls or marbles, to be placed in the pocket one at a time and given an upward toss and received in the tubes, the latter being of such length in proportion to their diameter that after one ball has been pocketed another ball may with ease be tossed and caught in a pocket without dislodging the one previously pocketed.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in both views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The base or body 1 may be of any size and shape and in the preferable construction is of rounded outline. A rim 2 surrounds the base or board to form, ineifect, a tray, so as to retain the objects missing the selected tube.

WVhile the rim 2 is preferred, it is not essential to the spirit of the invention. A handle 3 projects from the base to be gripped by the hand when manipulating the board in the playing of the game. The handle may be an integral part of the base or applied thereto, as determined upon. A pocket 4 is formed in the upper side of the base near one edge and is located at a point diametrically opposite the handle 3, this having been found to be the best position. A series of tubes 5 projest from the upper side of the base to a determinate height and may be arranged in any relative position and designated by any number. As shown, five tubes are provided, one being centrally disposed and the remaining four located equidistant from one another about the central tube in the form of a square. The upper side of the base maybe clothed with felt or other material to prevent rebound of the objects'when striking the same and to obviate the noise incident to the impact of the objects when striking or falling upon the said board. The tubes 5 may be marked to indicate any desired number of points in the game.

In playing the game any number of objects .6 may be provided, the same consisting, preferably, of balls or marbles. One of the objects 6 is placed in the pocket 4 and the base or board 1 is given a flirt or quick movement to toss the object into the air, and the board is manipulated to receive same into any one of the tubes. Should the player miss receiving the object in any one of the tubes, the operation is repeated until the object is caused to alight into a tube, when a second object is entered in asimilar way. The players take turn in manipulating the base, each having an allotted time, such as may be agreed upon. The player making the highest number of points in a given time is the winner. The game may be played in differout ways, such as may be agreed upon; but in every instance the objects or balls 6 are to be entered into the tubes one at a time, be-

ing placed in the pocket 4 and tossed into the diameter to admit of two or more balls being received therein and occupy a superposed position, the second bal] being pocketed by deftly manipulating the case Without (lislodging the ball previously pocketed or received in the tube.

Having thus described the invention, Whatis claimed as new is 1. In a game of the type comprising a series of objects to be tossed and pocketed, a base and a series of tubes projected from a side of the base and of such length in proportion to their diameter that after one object has been pocketed another object may be tossed and caught in the pocket Without dislodging the one previously pocketed, substantially as set forth.

2. In a game of the type comp risin g a series of objects to be tossed and pocketed, a base having a handle extended therefrom and provided in a side near the edge diametrically opposite to said handle with a pocket, a seriesof tubes differently positioned upon the side of the base having the pocket and projected therefrom to a greater distance than the diameter of the tubes to admit of anumber of objects being received in any one of the tubes and occupying a superposed relation therein, substantially as set forth.

3. In a game of the type comprising a series of objects to be tossed and pocketed, a base having a rim projected from a side in line with its edge and provided at diametrically opposite points with a handle and pocket, the latter being formed in the side from which the rim extends and adjacent thereto, tubes differently positioned upon the side of the base having the pocket and of such length in proportion to their diameter that after one object has been pocketed, another object may be tossed and caught in a pocket Without dislodging the one previously pocketed, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALVIN J. BRANHAM. 

